Tongue Of The Wise

Proverbs 15:2-4 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV)

You know that word you just spoke or the person you just spoke about recently, oh yeah the Lord was listening in as well; as He does with all that we speak. So what exactly flowed from your mouth, was it sweet water or bitter? Something that was living waters to bring life and growth to those around you or was it like a poison, bitter, and what the word of God describes as a breach in the spirit; that relationship with the Father that has been breached and compromised thus allowing a foreign substance into the heart?

The mouth of a fool is constantly pouring out foolishness, and is now a pour excuse for a Christian. You know people, not everything you hear about someone or some situation needs to be broadcast, rather kept in secret and prayed about, before a public proclamation is made. You ever deal with people that all they do is talk about everyone else, like their own life doesn’t even exist and probably wouldn’t have much of an existence if they didn’t have something or in most cases someone to talk about? What about our Lord, didn’t He give us enough to talk about without being so enamored with everyone else’s business? If you did need to speak concerning someone else, would it not be more proper to deal with them first rather than broadcasting it aloud? Is there anything more disgusting then all the tabloid journalism we see today, especially when it involves a scandal? Rather than focus on the positive and the good that is going on, this is what appeals more to those in the realm of the flesh and not the Spirit. It’s one thing for a fallen world to partake of this stuff; it’s another when it gets dragged into the Church realm with those that should know better.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. (KJV)

The Bible says love shall cover a multitude of sins. That thing you heard about someone, or that thing they confided in you with, was that done in trust and confidentiality, or was it something you couldn’t wait to hear and broadcast? A wise man operating in the wisdom of God will know what to speak and when to speak something if needed. A fool or a carnal childish person will utter all their mind with no regard for who it offends, even our heavenly Father and His children.

Proverbs 17:9-10 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. (10) A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. (KJV)

Nothing to me is more of a turn off than listening to people constantly talk about others behind their back; saying things they wouldn’t be able to say faithfully to their face. If that is the case then obviously it wasn’t something that needed to be spoken at all, but rather kept covered in love; being more concerned with the welfare of the brethren than their own. Oh sure hearing gossip and stuff about other people perks ones interest, especially the lower fallen nature that thrives on that stuff, but our new man in Christ needs to discern rightly what is of God and what isn’t so that we don’t cause strife and contention in the body; separating what was once a tight knit family. And heed the warning in verse 10 concerning reproof, because a wise man will take it to heart, but a fool will reject it no matter how many times you bring it, or how harshly you administer the reproof.

Proverbs 11:12-13 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. (13) A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. (KJV)

Are you totally sure of what you heard about someone else, that it was actually based on truth, a factual account of what really took place? If not, it wasn’t right for the knowledge, or should I say lack of it, to be passed on; worse yet, it wasn’t right for you to keep the chain of tale bearing alive and spreading like a raging wildfire. Are you a faithful person that is not void of wisdom? Then you will know when to speak and how to speak; and just as important when not to speak as well. Remember that neighbor you are speaking about may just be one of God’s own people; and when you become a tale bearer as well, you have now entered into the realm of the enemy; instead of holding your peace you have now let it go and lost it.

Proverbs 25:8-10 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. (9) Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: (10) Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. (KJV)

Strong’s definition for infamy:
1681  dibbah (dib-baw'); from 1680 (in the sense of furtive motion); slander:
KJV-- defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.

All that tale bearing you chose to spread forth, you know, what you chose to keep going around, it has just come back around on your doorstep in the form of shame. Rather than being quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, you chose to react according to emotions and not to respond in the Spirit, which has resulted in a breach not only with God but with His people. What should and could have been handled one on one was not done decently and in order, but rather like something hitting the fan and those around it as well. That smear campaign you were running ended up to be a dead end chase; and now rather than being an example of the believers you sound just like those of the world and its fallen nature. Wisdom people, think before you speak; understand what it is you are going to speak before you say it, and make sure your motive is one of love and not anger, because only one will be approved of God while the other will cause shame and misery.

Proverbs 2:20-23 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. (21) As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (22) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (23) Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (KJV)

That burning that is going on inside of you, is it a result of your own words, the things you allowed into the heart that is spewing from the mouth? Are you building up the body of Christ, or are you wounding their conscience and thus actually sinning against Him? Living waters bring life and keep things alive and growing, while a wildfire can be destructive and fanned by the tongue of those that are not wise.

Proverbs 26:24-28 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; (25) When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. (26) Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. (27) Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. (28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (KJV)

As we clearly see the end result of flattery is ruin, and will be exposed not only to God but to all those of His congregation who have their spiritual senses exercised to know the difference between good and evil speech. There is no greater love that we can have for the Church than to lay down our lives for the brethren. And one effective way to do that is with our words or our lack of them concerning God’s people. When a pit was dug, it was hewn out of the side of a hill and then a stone would be rolled in front of it, like a tomb. Remember what kind of people end up in a tomb and then ask yourself ‘is that where you want to end up also?’ Death and life are in the power of the tongue which is an extension of the heart; what you allow in to the heart is what will be coming out of it.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.